How To Clean Ac Unit

In the following article, let me tell you about “How To Clean Ac Unit”. Your air conditioning unit is basically a big part of what makes your home a place of rest and relaxation. After some time, you may notice that your unit is working harder to achieve the same level of cooling as it once did.

Like, if you are having a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system (HVAC), the heating can also become less effective over time.

Cleaning your air conditioner is a serious element of maintenance. Which will keep your system healthier and stronger for longer. That usually translates to some of the big-ticket recovery as well as a lower energy bill. With some time, patience and precision, you may also clean your air conditioner for better performance.

Is it OK to spray water on your air conditioner?

When the time comes to clean your air conditioner, usually the outside unit, you may feel nervous about spraying water on its surface. After all, one thing we all knew when we were very new is that water and electricity should not mix.

The good news is that you can basically spray water on your air conditioner if it still needs cleaning, and you will see that nothing bad will happen. Spraying water on your AC’s condenser will also help it in running more efficiently. In fact, your air conditioner’s condenser also requires a regular spritzing in order to keep doing a good job. Not something you would expect from a device which you need to plug in!

How To Clean Ac Unit

Spraying Water on Your Air Conditioner

You can basically spray water on your air conditioner to make it clean. You may also use your reliable old garden hose, and you don’t even need to be gentle with it. Just set it to a hard steam and then run it over the unit from top to bottom for a proper cleaning.

You can also need to give your condenser the occasional spray to help it in running more efficiently. Also, of course, you don’t want to get all those parts in an AC wet that should rest dry, or you will also heat the machine and will face a huge problem on your hands. While taking care of your condenser is basically an easy job on its own, if you have some doubts at all. You should definitely call a professional for help instead of taking a risk and killing your AC.

How “Spritzing” Helps

When you are going to give your AC’s condenser the occasional spritz, this may also work wonders for the efficiency of your machine. There are basically several benefits which you can usually enjoy from this practice.

Improves Efficiency

When you are going to spritz your condenser, you will have to improve it to evaporate the water, which will help you in cooling off more easily. It, also, needs to work less, which basically reduces the amount of energy it uses. And the amount of burned energy which you end up paying for in the very long run.

Lengthens Its Lifespan

Moreover, by improving your air conditioner’s efficiency, you will also be able to lengthen its lifespan. The less it has to work, and the better you will need to take care of it, the longer it will last. An important note: you will just need to take good care of all your filters, and also keep cleaning them regularly and then change them every 70 to 90 days. A dirty filter can also cause so many problems that you could otherwise avoid if you are simply taking good care of it.

Keeps It Clean

Spraying your air conditioner with water which helps in unsticking the particles. And debris that would otherwise build up over time in your air conditioner’s vents. The more things that build up, the dirtier your filter gets – and it doesn’t even catch all of it. Most of those particles will clot up the machine itself, basically leading to costly repairs and some replacements.

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Cleaning Your AC Unit

When you are hosing down your AC is certainly effective when it actually comes to cleaning. There are also some additional tasks you can also perform to help it run optimally and also improve its overall performance.

Clean the Fins

In addition to the condenser, you can also be able to clean your AC’s fins. First, you will have to use a soft brush to vacuum them down carefully. As they can also bend or otherwise become damaged if you are cleaning them too roughly. From there, you can basically spray the fins by using your hose from the inside of the unit. Then you will just have to remove the fan, then you will have to use moderate water pressure to remove some of the buildup on the fins.

Clean the Evaporator Coils

As we all know, cleaning your evaporator coils is more important but not something everyone feels comfortable doing so. This is usually something you may prefer to leave to the professionals.

Here is a way where you can be able to find a preventive maintenance plan to be incredibly helpful. With some preventive maintenance. You just have to concern yourself as much with the acute cleaning and caring of your air conditioner. Because you will need to trust the professionals to do it for you.

Once a year, our team at Ambient Edge can also stop by, making sure nothing is loosening or malfunctioning. And cleaning your unit the way it is meant to be cleaned to get it ready for the coming season ahead.

clean ac condenser

How do I clean my outside AC unit?

It’s usually spring, which means that it is the time to get your air conditioner ready for the cooling season. Can you actually believe it?

Your outdoor air conditioning unit has also been sitting outside this every time. And collecting a year’s worth of dirt and debris which is around its cooling fins.

So, just imagine that your body is wrapped in a fuzzy, wool blanket on a sizzling summer day. The wool blanket used to prevent heat in your body from escaping, which is causing your body to overheat. Doesn’t it sound horrible, right?

Well, your air conditioner basically goes through the same issue every year when it gets covered in grass clippings, leaves, dust, and dirt. And it will be really costing you money!

Problems Which Can Caused By a Dirty Condenser Unit

The compressor and condenser both are located in the outdoor heat pump unit. The condenser fins basically help the system in dissipating heat more efficiently, as like the radiator in a vehicle.

When heat is removed from the indoor air by the refrigeration cycle, hot refrigerant gets sent to the outdoor unit. The main job of the outdoor unit is basically to release heat from the refrigerant which is absorbed from your indoor air.

A condenser fan will also help you in blowing air on the outdoor coils (what exactly the refrigerant flows through). Basically to release heat energy to the outside air. Usually, if your outdoor unit is already clogged and airflow impeded, then it will take a lot longer for the refrigerant to release the heat. Just like how your body couldn’t be able to  release the heat when wrapped in a wool blanket.

Not only will it take longer for the air conditioner to cool your home properly, you’ll also be wasting energy and also spending more money. If there is no proper airflow around the outdoor condenser coils. Your air conditioner could overheat and can also break down — usually on one of the hottest days of the year.

So, for keeping your air conditioner clean and energy efficient. You will need to schedule professional AC maintenance every spring. And just sign up for a home maintenance plan so you will never forget the important task of scheduling annual HVAC tune-ups.

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When your HVAC professional will most likely include a full condenser cleaning as part of the annual AC tune-up. You should always confirm all the details before scheduling service.

When a certified HVAC technician has already cleaned the unit, you don’t need to worry about cleaning it again for another few months. Still, it can be a good idea to supplement professional HVAC tune-ups by using some DIY maintenance of your own.

Below, we will actually show you how you can clean the outdoor AC unit (condenser coils and fins) — and basically without paying a pro.

How can you clean the outside air conditioner unit

Tools you will be needing:

  • Air conditioner coil cleaner
  • Vacuum cleaner with soft-brush attachment
  • Water hose with sprayer
  • Work clothes, gloves, and eye protection

Follow all these given steps:

  1. First of all, you will have to turn the thermostat to “off.”
  2. After that you will simply need to find the electrical disconnect (a metal box). Which is basically near your outside unit, and usually on an exterior wall.
  3. Then you will have to open the electrical disconnect and just find the switch that can easily turn off the air conditioner. This can also be a pullout switch or a circuit breaker shutoff. Just pull the plug out or flip the switch to the “off” position.
  4. You will have to use gloved hands to simply remove any large pieces of debris.
  5. After that you will have to delicately vacuum the condenser fins by using a soft-brush attachment. Just be more careful not to bend any fins.
  6. After that you can use the water hose spray to clean off loose debris (grass, leaves, etc) which is on the outside unit.
  7. After that just spray the outside unit by using a coil cleaner.
  8. Then you will have to wait for 10-15 minutes as the cleaner foams and bonds with the dirt on the coils.
  9. Then you will just need to rinse the coil cleaner off by using the hose.

Perform this at least once a year, usually once in the spring and once in the summer.

Basically cleaning the air conditioner’s outside unit is just one of many tasks that should be done to maintain your system’s energy efficiency.

air conditioner cleaning

Pressure Wash My Outside AC Unit

  • Air conditioners are basically one of the most expensive appliances in a house. Many homeowners are serious about cleaning them with each passing season to protect all their investment. And even the regular maintenance of your AC unit will also save you from many costly repair bills. But cleaning it by using the wrong tools can also cause damage to your system and eliminate all of your savings. Is it more safe to use a pressure washer on an AC unit, and if not, what should you use to clean instead?
  • A system that’s already clogged with dirt and dust would not function that efficiently. An overloaded unit is easier to break down. Blocked air conditioners can also be able to raise your power bill, all for lowered performance. Most of the owners of these machines basically want to clean the coils to prevent damage and wasted energy. A pressure washer may also seem like the way to go since its high power can also blast away dust and mildew. Basically, the stream is too intense for the coils of your unit.
  • Instead of fixing your problem, a pressure washer will also be able to create new ones by damaging the fins. Basically it is made of copper or aluminum, and all of these soft metals will also bend under the intensity of a high-pressure stream. It can also create some holes in the tubing. A power washer is too intense for the coils of an AC system. For all these reasons, it’s strongly advised that you only prefer pressure washing the outside of your unit; and repairing coils which is a costly fix.
  • So what should you use to clean your outside unit instead? Before starting to clean your air conditioner, just make sure to power it down. When you are using water to clean it, shutting the power off will help you in preventing any electrical hazards. You can also flip the switch down or easily pull out the block from the electrical socket.
  • Next, you will need to trim the overgrown grass or weeds which are surrounding your unit. They can also stop the airflow and reduce efficiency. So, to give your AC system room to breathe by clearing the vegetation around it. Then, you will have to simply eliminate the top of the unit; you may also need to loosen some of the screws for this. The fan can also be attached to the top cover, so just need to take care and place it where it will not be damaged. You may also be able to clean the blades of the fan by using a rag or brush.
  • Then, you will have to cover the motor and electrical wires by using a plastic wrap. This will help you in protecting the electrical appliances from water damage. You can also use a vacuum by using a brush attachment to suck out any dust from inside the unit. The soft bristles and suction would not be so intense that they will also break down the coils in the condenser. If you are facing any warped fins, you can also use a fin comb or a knife to gently straighten them; And simply insert it with the bent coil and then use the sharp edges to properly align the metal.
  • When you are done with cleaning the interior, you may also use a coil cleaner spray or compressed air to easily dissolve dirt from the fins. And you will need to just allow the product to sit on the coils for at least five minutes. Then, you can easily wash it away by using the steam from a garden hose – it’s much less intense than a power washer, and will also do the job of removing pollen and dirt from your unit. So, by using the lowest pressure possible, you will have to spray the exterior to eliminate any leaves, dust, or dirt, and just do your best to keep water away from the motor.
  • When you are done with cleaning your unit, now is the time to reassemble it. You will just need to take off the plastic which you have already placed to protect all the wires and motor. Then, just the fan and top cover of the unit, and improve any screws that are required. Finally, you can easily be able to power your unit back on, either by plugging it in or flipping the switch. And you will just have to set the system to cool your home and just enjoy your highly efficient, newly cleaned air conditioner.
  • AC units are not that inexpensive; proper maintenance of these systems basically requires the help of a professional. To make sure that your AC unit is already clean without even worrying about damaging it in the process, you can also reach a professional to perform it for you. We will only have to use the lowest pressure to clean your AC unit to basically prevent any severe damage. And you will just have your HVAC system which is usually examined by the heating and cooling experts to keep it running smoothly and more efficiently for years to come.

 

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